Palmer & Delap - Chelsea injury news ahead of Atalanta Champions League clash

The Blues will be without their star player for the UCL night.

Cole Palmer and Liam Delap will both be absent from Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League match against Atalanta tonight. However, manager Enzo Maresca has given supporters some encouraging news about both players.

In Saturday’s 0-0 draw with AFC Bournemouth, Palmer made his eagerly anticipated comeback to Chelsea’s starting XI. Delap was substituted before halftime due to what appeared to be an unsightly shoulder injury.

Liam Delap set to miss UCL clash against Atalanta

Although it was immediately apparent that Delap would need to spend some time on the sidelines, Maresca disclosed that the diagnosis for the formidable forward’s issue was not as severe as first thought.

“Yeah, Liam fortunately is not any fracture, so that is good news,” Enzo Maresca told in his pre-match press conference. “Now for how long he will be out, not sure to be honest.”

Chelsea conducted a portion of Monday’s training session in front of the media in accordance with UEFA regulations. Those present soon noticed Palmer’s absence, raising concerns. This is a player who had previously missed 16 games this season due to injury in all competitions.

Maresca reveals Cole Palmer’s unavailability

Thankfully, Maresca clarified that Palmer’s absence was merely a planned move to facilitate the magical midfielder’s return to action in full fitness following his protracted sabbatical.

“Cole is part of his process in this moment, he’s not available, he can’t play two games in a row in three days,” Maresca stressed. “So we’ve planned that and it’s just a way to protect him.”

While having Nicolas Jackson tied to a temporary transfer to Bayern Munich, Chelsea recalled Marc Guiu from his loan stint with Sunderland after losing Delap to injury early in the season.

Despite Delap’s injury, Chelsea seem to have plenty of attacking options. While Maresca has occasionally deployed youth player Tyrique George and winger Pedro Neto as unconventional strikers this season, Guiu and João Pedro are clear substitutes.

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